Author: PPD Team Date: 05/03/2025
The Government of India has launched five pilot projects to deploy hydrogen-fuelled buses and trucks as part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
The initiative includes 37 vehicles—15 hydrogen fuel cell-based and 22 hydrogen internal combustion engine-based—operating on 10 routes across the country, including Greater Noida – Delhi – Agra, Bhubaneshwar – Konark – Puri, Ahmedabad – Vadodara – Surat, and Pune – Mumbai.
The government has allocated Rs 2.08 billion for these projects, which are expected to be commissioned within 18 to 24 months. The pilots aim to validate the technical feasibility, safety, and economic viability of hydrogen-powered vehicles and their refuelling infrastructure under real-world conditions. They will also assess hydrogen’s effectiveness as a transport fuel and establish a foundation for scaling up hydrogen-powered mobility in India.
To support these trials, nine hydrogen refuelling stations will be set up. In February 2024, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy issued guidelines for pilot projects in the transport sector, inviting proposals for hydrogen-based vehicles, routes, and refuelling infrastructure. After a detailed review, projects were awarded to key players in India’s automotive and energy sectors, including Tata Motors, Reliance Industries, NTPC, Ashok Leyland, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, and Indian Oil Corporation.